Norma Sayles Labarthe

Norma Sayles Labarthe, 91 entered her eternal home with the Lord on the evening of August 8th at Juliette Fowler in Dallas, Texas.

Visitation will be from 3-5pm on Friday, September 5th at Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road. Funeral services will be held Saturday, September 6th at 11:30am at the Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Reset at 602 Meander Street in Abilene, Texas. There will be a reception at the church following the service.

Norma Jane Atkinson was born in Abilene, Texas on January 28, 1934. Her parents, Cola B. and Charlie Atkinson instilled in her the value of education, hard work, travel, country living and the love of a large extended family. She attended Valley View Elementary, North Junior High, and Abilene High Schools where she met a group of thirteen girls that became her "true blue," lifelong friends. In 1983, "The Girls" began their yearly tradition of trips together to many destinations, building a myriad of cherished memories with one another through 2015.

Norma was a vibrant presence throughout her high school years-learning to play bridge as a sophomore, sparkling as a thespian in school plays, and ultimately becoming an Abilene High cheerleader her senior year. Norma's father, Charlie, was a pharmacist in Abilene, Texas. He and Cola B. owned the Star Drug Store and later The Hardin Simmons University Drug Store. It was there that Norma learned the finesse of sales, how to cashier, work the fountain, and ultimately run a business. The summer after graduation in 1952, she adventured through Europe and returned in the fall to attend the University of Texas at Austin as a Kappa. She studied there for a year and a half before becoming engaged to Reed Sayles, the father of her three daughters.

Though her marriage to Reed ended in 1962, Norma-like her beloved Scarlett O'Hara-had a gift for moving forward. With courage and unwavering determination, she relocated her young family of four to Dallas in 1965, embracing it as their new frontier.

Norma quickly earned her real estate license and then her broker's license, all while working as an executive secretary. Before long, she purchased her first home in Highland Park for "next to nothing" thanks to a tip she overheard from businessmen chatting at a cocktail party. The house was just a short walk from the junior high and Southern Methodist University (SMU). Year by year, the life Norma built continued to flourish in the Park Cities, a testament to her persistence and determination.

In the summer of 1971, Norma married Larry Labarthe, a joyful addition to the entire family. After two more Park City moves, Norma and Larry settled in at 3413 Dartmouth Avenue-a house that became the heart of their growing world. There, she taught herself the ins and outs of stock market investing while Larry worked for E-Systems. Norma always possessed a green thumb, nurturing both indoor and outdoor plants, and she brought that same instinct for growth and care to her success in stock investments.

As Norma's girls married, eight grandchildren came along. To them, she was "Grandmommy," and their memories of her shimmer with love: playing restaurant and office, hosting tea parties, telling animated stories, sneaking tastes of cookie dough, and turning sick days into comfort with a tray of food in bed. No matter the distance, she made it to their sporting events as a devoted fan cheering loudly and staying late.

Norma loved all kinds of games, and especially card games, but it was Bridge that remained her favorite- a companion she cherished for most of her life. After Larry passed in 2001, Norma returned to Abilene and discovered an evolved passion for Duplicate Bridge-not just for the game, but for the new friendships she forged with partners along the way. Her dedication culminated in 2015, when she proudly achieved her "Life Masters" honor.

Through the first two decades of the twenty-first century, Norma delighted in Bible studies and celebrating her grandchildren's milestones-birthdays, graduations, weddings, and births. Her mother, Cola B., had a favorite saying she loved to share: "Every dog has his day." Reflecting, Norma would probably say, she had more than her share of a whole, big, wonderful life, shaped by God's blessings, as she chose to persistently move forward in faith with Him.

"'For I know the plans I have for you', declares the Lord, 'Plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.'" - Jeremiah 29:11

Norma is preceded in death by her husband Larry Labarthe, her parents Charles Atkinson and Cola B. Ramsey, her brother Charles "Bubba" Atkinson and Martha Newcome, her sister Janice A. Harkins and Bill Harkins.

Norma is survived by her three daughters: Stephanye Sayles Taylor of Fort Worth and Abilene, Texas, Sherryl Sayles Thomas and husband Martin of Dallas, Texas, Shannon Sayles Carter and husband Henry "Hank" of Richmond, Virginia; her grandchildren: Sarah Kate T. Jones and husband Zach, Grace T. Edsel and husband Philip, Luke Taylor, Lillyan T. Shelley and husband Ryan, Chase Thomas and wife Rachel, Natalie T. Forrest and husband Brent, Ramsey C. Williams and husband Elliot, Elizabeth "Liza" C. Timmons and husband Paul; her great-grandchildren: Van, George, and Henry Jones, Zibby and Fisher Shelley, Brady and Wesley Thomas, Harper and Scottie Mae Forrest, Kate Williams, Olive Norma Edsel (expected Oct. 2025); plus two nieces and four nephews

Honorary pallbearers are Chase Thomas, Luke Taylor, Zach Jones, Philip Edsel, Ryan Shelley, Brent Forrest, Elliot Williams and Paul Timmons.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to West Texas Rehabilitation Center, 4601 Hartford Abilene, Texas 79605 or online at https://westtexasrehab.org/donation  or Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Rest 602 Meander, Abilene, Texas 79602 or online at https://www.heavenlyrestabilene.org/give